Terry Jackson rode his VILLAGE RAM to first place in the Beach Cats class while Chris Rosenberg aboard FRENCHMAN'S REEF dominated the Racing 2 spinnaker class.
Practice made perfect for Chris Rosenberg and Robbie Hirst at the Heineken Regatta. They sailed well against the world's best at Key West in January, prevented from a top ten by a broken rudder in the last race. The experience paid off at the first major northern Caribbean regatta with a series of four first place finishes. The courses in St. Maarten may favor the Melges 24 sloop sailed by Rosenberg and Hirst, but the other Melges 24s present were not able to present a strong threat to FRENCHMAN'S REEF.
Jackson won a closer fought battle in the wild beach cat class that saw three different boats score first places finishes. He won the first race and then won the regatta the classic way, consistent finishes in the top three in every race after. Jackson has also been competing outside the Caribbean area as he attempts to qualify for the next Olympics in the Tornado catamaran class.
The next stop on the Caribbean racing tour is the Puerto Rico Heineken Regatta, March 18though 21th, the first regatta of the Caribbean Ocean Racing Triangle.